Also speaking in complete ignorance, but (re 1 and 2) must the
diagonal lines be slashes? Couldn't they be embroidery? The symmetry
in the back makes the diagonal lines look like stylized leaves, with
the vertical line a stylized stem, for the pearl flowers. I don't get
the impression of actual openings, either on the "bag" or on the
front part.
My view of the dark spot accords with Linda's--almost as if the bag
is a straight piece, caught up under the hair, rather than a shaped
closed bag.
I send this only as a "fresh eye," not as somebody who knows anything.
--Ruth Anne Baumgartner
scholar gypsy and amateur costumer
On Oct 5, 2006, at 7:15 PM, Linda Rice wrote:
Hello~!
This is so not my period of study, so I'm not much help on issues 1
& 2.
But for issue 3, I can tell you what I see. I see a deliberate
design,
not a place where the paint is flaking off or a "mistake" or sloppy
painting. Notice the perfectly straight line across the top of the
black
shape, and the symmetrical curve of the bottom line. Those suggest an
opening to me. I almost fancy that I see subtle shading of gathers and
puckers along the bottom edge. I also see tiny hatchmarks inside it,
which looks a lot like a representation of netting. It would make
sense
for a woman with a lot of hair to put it up in a sturdy net, then
cover
it with the fashionable outer "bag" that we see here.
This is what I see... others may see differently!
+Linda+
-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of E House
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:42 PM
Subject: [h-cost] 1520s french headwear--fresh eyes needed
I'm working on a replica of the headress worn by Princess Charlotte in
this Clouet painting (1522):
http://www.formfunction.org/temp/1522clouet-charlotte-de-fra.jpg
After much experimentation, I've come up with a pattern I'm reasonably
happy with, but I just cannot make up my mind on a few points. If
you'll look at this closeup:
http://www.formfunction.org/temp/1522clouet-charlotte-detail.jpg
you should be able to see each of them.
Issue 3: that blackish semi-circle at the nape of the neck
This looks almost like a painter's mistake, or as though the paint has
started to flake off to reveal a previous version, or some wierd
aborted
restoration attempt, or I don't know what; whatever it is, my instinct
is that it's not really a part of the headwear. If it were a part of
the headwear, the only things I can think of would be a) a poor
rendering of the bag's interior, seen in shadow (but I give Clouet way
more credit than that!) or b) a netting of some sort. Any ideas as to
what on earth it could be? Anyone know more about the history of this
painting than I do (ie, more than nothing)?
-E House
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